Carusone, Gators Take First Half of Doubleheader vs. Mount Ida

Chestnut Hill, MA – Pine Manor won game one of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader, 4-2, before dropping the second game 6-4 to visiting Mount Ida College on Sunady April 10, at Pine Manor Field in Chestnut Hill, MA.

PMC freshman Ashley Carusone (Nashua, NH/Nashua North) stole the show in the first game, going 2-3 with 3 RBIs, a run and a home run. Carusone got the Gators on the board first when she tripled to drive home sophomore Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA/Bartlett). However, Mount Ida would counter in the top of the third inning as junior Erica Belliveau (Tewksbury, MA/Tewksbury Memorial) hit a single through the left side to tie the game at 1-1.

The game remained tied until the fifth inning when Carusone would once again help the Gators take the lead. After being hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Carusone advanced to third thanks to two productive outs by the Gators. Carusone then scored on a wild pitch by Mount Ida starter Devan Meeker (Bantam, CT/Litchfield), giving the Gators the 2-1 lead.

Mount Ida would fight back again in the next inning, as the Mustangs were determined to keep the Gators within reach. With two runners on and no one out, Mount Ida freshman Tiffany True (Haverhill, MA/Essex Agricultural) dropped down a perfectly placed bunt to score the runner for third and tie the game.

With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh, Carusone once again delivered for the Gators. Following a one out base hit from junior Jennifer Gross (Coral Springs, FL/Coral Glades), Carusone hit a home run over the left field fence just out of reach of the tremendous diving effort of Mount Ida leftfielder Denise Picard (Winooski, VT/Winooski). The game-winning home run was Carusone’s second home run of the season and her second of the weekend.

In game two, the Gators got out to an early first inning lead thanks to junior Kayla Nielsen (Saco, ME/Thornton Academy). With senior Jess Kennedy (Lakeville, MA/Apponequet) aboard, Nielsen hit her third home run of the weekend to give the Gators a 2-1 advantage.

However, a big second inning from Mount Ida put the Mustangs ahead to stay. Mount Ida countered with a five run second following Nielsen’s home run, notching four hits in the inning, including a two-run double from Meeker. Mount would carry a 6-2 lead all the way to the sixth inning.

In the sixth, the Gators began to chip away. Senior Michelle Campbell (Baltimore, MD/Seton Keough) singled to drive home Gross and cut the deficit to 6-3. The Gators would continue to threaten as Nielsen stepped into the box with the bases loaded and no one out. However, Meeker was able to induce a ground ball to third as Mount Ida tagged Kennedy for the final out of the inning. Meeker went the distance in both games for Mount Ida, getting the win in game two.

In the bottom of the seventh, Delgado hit a solo home run, tying her with Nielsen for the team lead with four, but ultimately it was not enough as the Mustangs would hang on for the 6-4 victory.

Junior Tara Doehler (Lakeville, MA/Apponequet) started for the Gators in both games. Doehler who pitched both games on Saturday helped guide the Gators to a 3-1 record during this weekend’s home stand as well as improving her overall record to 6-9.

Pine Manor will return to action Tuesday when they take on Emmanuel in a doubleheader at Roberto Clemente Field in Boston, MA. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 6:00 p.m